Suspended U.N. diplomat to plead guilty in U.S. bribery case

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A suspended deputy United Nations ambassador from the Dominican Republic accused of participating in a scheme to bribe a former U.N. General Assembly president is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday, according to a court filing.

Francis Lorenzo, who faces charges including bribery and money laundering, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Manhattan for a plea hearing, according to a docket entry on Monday.

He is one of six individuals facing charges in connection with an alleged scheme to pay more than $1.3 million in bribes to John Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda and onetime General Assembly president.